June 2014 Surgery Sisters

Same here.  I had to ask my PS and she said I could use unscented lotion 3-4 weeks out.

Ojoyjoy- I'm so impressed that you made it to the relay for life. Good job!

I haven't been out too much, and it's getting to me. I think I'll see how driving is today. It's been three weeks. 

Oops the bold keeps going on and off. 

Where I have my sentinel node biopsy it feels hard. Is that normal? 

Also when I asked about the scars they said wait until the surgical tape is off. I don't know if it dissolves or it's taken off. I haven't looked too close because the scars freak me out. 

Sandra- do you know if there is a straight to implant thread on here? I can't find one, but maybe I'm wording it wrong.

I hope everyone is well.

Jackie- I hope your feeling better. 

Hi ladies- I was told bio oil or lotion for the scars. I said to the NP that I was surprised that my incisions we not done better, I was expecting a finer stitch job. She said that because they are going to open me back up again they aren't as meticulous as they will be when they do the exchange. She also said that because they are going to open me up again that dealing with the scars now doesn't really matter. It will be after the exchange when that comes in to play. She did say that using the bio oil or lotion will help with my skin though. So, I'm going to use it for that and my scars as it can't hurt. Has anyone else heard this?

I got another 75cc in yesterday. They did the same last week and last week I just had a little discomfort. This time, I'm having a lot more discomfort. Been taking the Valium and broke down and took a half of Percocet at 3am. I'm feeling it in my upper back this time as well. Not sure if it's because I slept wrong or if it s because of the fill. Even though I'm sleeping on my back when I woke up from a nap yesterday I had the back pain too. Thinking I had myself propped up wrong as I still can't sleep totally flat. I go in next week for another fill and might have her do a little less if the discomfort last longer than a couple of days. I'm trying to get all my fills done before I start back up to work in sept. I've been approved for the picture forum and will make a post soon. Just need to take some pictures today.  

linda- I have coconut oil here at home now, I'll use that too. I think the more supple and soft the skin is the better. How exciting to be exchanging in Sept! I bet you can't wait to get these TEs out

My plastic surgeon gave me some sort of vitamin E cream for my scars. He also said they will work on them more at exchange but they are looking pretty good now and I'm at one month today - wow how time flies. I had a fill yesterday and he says I should only need one more and that will not be until August 20 because my PS is going on vacation and then I'm going on a vacation. 

Glad everyone seems to be doing fairly well this week. 

Today makes 7 weeks since my surgery.  I went to Jazzercise today and was able to keep up better than I expected.  I've also noticed that my breasts are softening up a little and actually moving.  They had been feeling like rock hard mounds on my chest during these post-op weeks.  I guess I'm making progress, so I'll keep on keeping on.

I need to catch up on the posts, but until then, I hope everyone is healing well and feeling well, physically and emotionally.  This is quite a journey that we're on, so try to stay encouraged, my friends...

One love,

tp4ever

6-20-14 Lumpectomy & 13 lymph nodes.  Having numb burning pain from my rt. elbow up to my rt. armpit. Been told it may take 6 months before it heals. Haven't used any cream on the scar but reading other posts it may be a good idea. Having a PET scan on 8-1 to see if there is any other cancer. Tests results will be given on 8-8. It appears that cancer runs in my family. My dad died at age 54 of colon cancer (smoker), 7 year younger sister had melanoma on her leg last year & now I had breast cancer. The important info regarding this is that we were/are all blood type A. I asked my cancer dr. about it & he said about 60% to 65% of us patients are A blood type. Anyone else coming across this connection?

I'm just waiting to see if there's any other cancer to deal with. It was quite a surprise to have breast cancer as it does not run in the family. I found this site for cancer support & what I may have to deal with in the future. I've been told that I probably will have radiation for 5 days a week for 4 or 5 weeks. Also, may need to take hormones for 5 years. I've been reading the info on two different ones they give & it appears one can possibly cause cervical cancer. I don't feel the need to take a med that has that caution.

Jrcats, did you know that only 5-10% of breast cancers are hereditary?  Alot of people think that you're only at high risk if you have family members with a history of breast cancer.  However, having a family history or family member with breast cancer, does not play a large role in most women's chances of developing breast cancer.  90-95% of all women diagnosed with breast cancer have no family history!!  The BCO Genetics section is very interesting and informative with regards to this topic... http://www.breastcancer.org/risk/factors/genetics...

I hope your lumpectomy took care of all your cancer, and you're able to move on to your radiation.  I had 6 weeks of radiation after my first diagnosis, and also did 7 years of hormonal therapy - 5 years of Tamoxifen and 2 years of Femara.  There will be side effects, but I am convinced that these drugs are effective.  13 years after my first diagnosis, and 6 years after I completed my hormone treatment, my cancer returned.  Talk about a surprise!  I wasn't ready for that, but it's gone well so far.  A mammogram and early detection has once again saved my life!

One love,

tp4ever

Just read this and thought I'd share....you may want to share it with your friends and family too What Your Friends with Cancer Want You to Know (but were afraid to say

Hope everyone is having a relaxing weekend. 

KLJ

Thankyou so much for your "White Cow" recipe!! It has been a lifesaver for me as I have had to use it at least once a week since my surgery.

I have so many posts to catch up on here and it's going to take me a pretty long time. Happy to hear some of you are doing so well. I'm sorry there are a few others not. Your all still in my thoughts and prayers. 

I've been reading a lot about LE and cording as my BS says I have some in my left breast. So I haven't been posting much. 

I'm going to be writing a book here. My apologies.

I had my surgery June 23rd. Everything went great. A few changes to my surgery and I ended up with DIEP on one side and Tram Flap on right side. Finally when the day came I was so calm it was crazy. I was so grateful I would be on the other side soon. My surgery took 8 hours. Really the only thing I remember about waking up was wanting to see if I had something there and this hot air blanket thing over me for a few days. It was to keep circulation going. I came home after 5 days and was doing my arm exercises I'd been given booklets on. 

My drains were out the first week I was home. My left side was the DIEP side and it has been swollen and painful since day 1. I also had 10 nodes removed instead of 2 on that side also. The TRAM side is doing amazing. I went to my post op with my PS 2 weeks later and was told I needed to rest in bed, not do Anything, no arm exercises nothing for 6 weeks. He said I was doing too much. I couldn't believe it. If I did any less I would have been going backwards seriously. He still said rest do Nothing at all period. He finally explained my flesh apparently was very spongy and he said would rip very easy. Also my veins weren't good on my left side where he did the DIEP. Henceforth the Tram on the right. I went home pretty upset to think I'd be sitting and laying around for 6 weeks. Well I'll hit 5 weeks today and I've been feeling pretty good except for the swelling in my left breast and my tummy opening up a really tiny amount until yesterday. My hubby dropped some pills on the floor and he has really bad arthritis in his knees and didn't want him down on the floor getting pills. Well I got down on my hands and knees without even thinking. I thought I was being very careful, until I got up. Now I have horrible pain in my left side and it's pretty hard and hot. Then today I tried to break a pill in half and I felt this aweful tearing feeling in my left breast. Now it's swollen up twice it's size. Seriously I couldn't have been more careful and I'm really fed up that I'm so far out from my surgery and am dealing with this kind of pain and swelling. Also i can't stand this strange sunburn prickly feeling in my skin sometimes I can't stand my clothes on even.I have always been able to withstand a lot. Even my moods have been great. But tonight I just want to cry so much. I can only lift a cup of coffee and am unable to lift anything heavier. I feel like this is never going to end. Also I've had my MIL cooking all of our meals and she's been wonderful but she is 82 and she needs a break. My hubby does everything else. Seriously I'm feeling so wimpy and oh woe is me. I'm not looking for sympathy here but seriously I don't want to be sitting here endlessly waiting to get on with my life. I want my ROM back, I want to get out and go for walks. Etc etc etc. I'm calling my PS tomorrow to see if I can get in to see him. Do something about this enormous mound on my chest and just get on with it. Have any of you who have gone through your surgery had to just do nothing? How are you doing? Or dealing with this? Thanks for letting me vent yet once again.

Trish01254

 I can't believe your back at work all ready. I'm sorry your still experiencing pain. If you think you have a hernia maybe get it checked also. I have pain up in my rib area like bruising. I went to see my PS yesterday  he said it can take months to get back to normal activity and also a year to just get over this surgery completely, he said I can go for walks. I'm so happy about that!! I have a large accumulation of fluid in my left breast and that's the one the BS took 10 nodes from. He also said it was normal to have swelling and more pain in that side. He said it should subside in about 6 weeks. He couldn't see signs of infection but did say if it gets red or really hot that I'm to go back immediately. My incision on my tummy seems to be healing well he said. I'm still not aloud to use my arms except for very small things. But I'm happy I'm not chained to this recliner anymore. I get pain in my breastbone when I cough laugh also. I thought I had asked a million questions b4 my surgery but still he didn't say that I can recall that this was going to be such a long recoup after the surgery. But he also reminded me this was a very huge surgery and I need to be patient. Easy for him to say when I'm not very patient and I hate asking for help or people doing things for me. I'm a very independent person and always the one to help. That's much easier for me.

Sandra

Thankyou for your kind words. Wow your saying my recoup is aweful? I think I'm very lucky after reading your reply that I didn't have any infection or have to have anymore surgery or IV antibiotics like you did. All I have to do was sit / lay around. You've had so much surgery. Reading your signature seems your a very patient person. I think I would have called it quits and gone flat. My husband has also been an angel but I've always been the caretaker so this is very alien to me. I'll keep you in my prayers for a good outcome with your next surgery.

hello ladies- I finally had my appointment with the oncologist today. He was worth the wait! He's the Chief of Onocolgy, lucky me. He spent over a hour with my fiancée and I, explaining everything and answering our questions. We are still waiting on the onkotype test to come in, should be back in a couple of days. He feels by my path results and the fact that I'm off the charts ER/PR positive 95%, KI67: less than 10%, the Oncotype will come back low. If that's the case then I'll do tamoxifen for a month to two, then switch to an AI with ovary suppression shots once a month. No need to take my ovaries out. I should get started on something by the end of this week or beginning of next. He said that even if the onkotype came back in the medium range, the grey area, he would still recommend no chemo and the course of action I stated above. So, today was a good news day. I'm much more at ease now that I have a plan to work. Of course, until the test comes back I will not be at total ease but feeling a sense of calm tonight. 

Hope all of you are healing well from surgery. I'm finally starting to feel like my old self energy wise....only took about 5 weeks, lol. Sending out healing vibes to all. Gentle ((hugs))